Obama discusses Syria, Ukraine with Russia's Putin - White House

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, in a
phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday,
emphasized the need to work toward a diplomatic solution to the
crisis in Ukraine and address the conflict in Syria, the White
House said.

Obama told Putin that a key next step in resolving the
Ukrainian crisis was for all sides to agree on the modalities of
local elections in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the White House
said in a statement.

The two leaders also "noted the necessity of taking steps to
foster productive discussions between representatives of the
Syrian opposition and regime under United Nations auspices,
principally by reducing violence and addressing the urgent
humanitarian needs of the Syrian people," the statement said.

They also discussed the "importance of a strong and united
international response" to North Korea's recent nuclear test.

Separately, the Kremlin said in a statement that Obama and
Putin expressed support during their phone call for an easing of
tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by David Alexander and
Sandra Maler)